Jim Bridenstine says no to Senate run

The GOP field to replace Sen. Tom Coburn became clearer Wednesday morning, as conservative Rep. Jim Bridenstine said he will not run and Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon announced he is in.

The simultaneous moves offered Senate candidate and current Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) both measures of relief and concern, as he learned he won’t stare down his delegation mate but will still face a formidable foe in the June primary. Coburn’s seat is almost certain to go to the Republican nominee in the ruby red state.

Text Size

Conservative groups had been trying to draft the freshman Bridenstine as a challenger to Lankford, a member of House GOP leadership who is vying to replace Coburn. But Bridenstine said in a statement Wednesday morning that now is not the time for him to make the leap to the Senate. Coburn, who is battling cancer, is stepping down at the end of the year.

“Since Dr. Tom Coburn’s retirement announcement, I have been honored and overwhelmed by encouragement to succeed him as Oklahoma’s senator,” Bridenstine said. “After giving this matter serious consideration and prayer, my family and I have decided I will not run in the special election to complete Dr. Coburn’s term.”

Meanwhile, Shannon will offer Republicans an alternative to Lankford, a rising star in Congress whose record has drawn the ire of conservative groups. Shannon said in a statement announcing his candidacy that as speaker, he has worked to “show the rest of the country what kind of prosperity could come from conservative policies.”